The Heat's LeBron James goes up for a shot over the Warriors' Carl Landry during the first half. James became the youngest player to score 20,000 points in his NBA career.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

The Heat's LeBron James goes up for a shot over the Warriors' Carl...

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Fans hold up a sign commemorating the Miami Heat's LeBron James' 20,000 career point against the Golden State Warriors during an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. James on Wednesday became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Fans hold up a sign commemorating the Miami Heat's LeBron James'...

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Miami Heat's LeBron James, center, acknowledges fans in the stands with teammate Dwyane Wade, left, after scoring his 20,000 career point against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. James on Wednesday became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Miami Heat's LeBron James, center, acknowledges fans in the stands...

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra directs his team against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra directs his team against the...

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Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) dunks against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. James on Wednesday became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) shoots next to Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. James on Wednesday became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) shoots next to Golden State Warriors'...

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Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) grimaces after falling down after taking a shot against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. James on Wednesday became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) grimaces after falling down after...

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Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) goes up for a dunk against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. James on Wednesday became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) goes up for a dunk against the...

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Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) dunks against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Plus, Miami's talent and athleticism made it appear as though the Heat had at least a one-man advantage for portions of the 92-75 thrashing in front of a national TV audience and the ninth consecutive sellout crowd at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors (23-14) have officially hit their first major speed bump of the season, having lost four of their past five games. Now they face the possibility of playing without Curry for an extended period.

"I haven't been in this situation for a while, so I don't know if it will be a fast or slow process," said Curry, who will travel with the team to San Antonio and New Orleans, whether or not he plays Friday and Saturday.

The team's point guard, who was already nursing a hyperextended right knee from Sunday's game, missed Wednesday's game after reinjuring his twice surgically repaired right ankle at the morning shootaround.

He was chasing a loose ball during a shell drill when he stepped on the foot of center Festus Ezeli and immediately slumped in pain. The Warriors said X-rays on Curry's ankle were negative, and the point guard will return "based on his progress."

"I'm not a doctor, but I can't imagine it turning into something more," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said. "We're not concerned."

Maybe they should be. The Warriors didn't look like they could handle even a minute without their floor general.

After surgeries each of the past two offseasons, Curry hadn't missed a game this season. The first time he was absent, the team had more turnovers (21) than assists (17), set a new level for futility in points, and tied season lows in field goals (29) and fastbreak points (5).

Jarrett Jack started in Curry's place and had two of his five turnovers in the opening 31 seconds. The Warriors never went longer than 6:42 without committing at least one turnover, and Miami turned the gaffes into 22 points.

"They made a heck of a case for Steph Curry to be in the All-Star Game," Jackson said. "If we can go from being a top-notch team to the team that played (Wednesday), just because we're missing one guy, that sure says a lot about him."

It was just what Miami, which led by as many as 34 points, needed. The Heat (25-12) had lost three of their past four games and came into Oakland having to deal with questions about the fourth-quarter benching of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Monday's loss at Utah.

Miami didn't mess around from the get-go, skipping the high-five lines during pregame introductions and reporting directly to a huddle around coach Erik Spoelstra. While the Warriors were dancing to their own introductory music, James and Wade took their positions on the court and waited in the dark.

James, who finished with 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, did whatever he wanted and secured scoring and passing milestones before getting to rest for the final quarter. His second assist of the game and the 5,000th of his career came with 6:42 remaining in the first quarter when he found a cutting Wade for an easy dunk.

James had attempted only one shot - finishing a halfcourt alley-oop pass from Wade - until that point, but turned his attention to scoring from there. A one-handed floater in the lane with 2:45 remaining in the first half made James the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points.